Cardinals battle through district gauntlet to secure Region 4 berth
The Washburn Cardinals proved their postseason toughness at the 2026 NDHSAA Class B District 8 Tournament, navigating a competitive field to finish fourth and earn a spot in the upcoming Region 4 Tournament.
Facing a bracket filled with strong contenders, Washburn showed resilience, defensive intensity, and the ability to respond after adversity, all traits that ultimately helped secure its place among the district’s four qualifiers.
District tournament play began with a play-in matchup between Center-Stanton and White Shield, with Center-Stanton advancing via a 56-20 win to claim the eighth seed.
That result set up the main bracket, where top seeds quickly began to assert themselves. Flasher defeated Center-Stanton 51-25, while Central McLean handled Mandaree 79-45.
Garrison also advanced with a 64-39 victory over Wilton-Wing.
Washburn’s tournament run opened in Game 3 against fifth-seed New Salem-Almont, and the Cardinals delivered a strong performance from start to finish.